Concrete finishing machines



July 1, 1969 I 1.5. KESSEL 3,452,654

CONCRETE FINI SHING MACH INES Filed Sept. 9. 1966 aan1 o a o O no o o o0 o, o 0

' T /NVE/v 70H.

UW m @JOHN E. KESSEL United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 94--45 7 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A concrete finishing machine having aconcrete-working member movable transversely to a roadway and prvotableto any angle of tilt between two extreme angles.

This invention relates to concrete finishing machines, and, moreparticularly, to concrete finishing machines which are particularly welladapted for use on roadways, and the like.

Concrete spreading machines have been heretofore known in the art. Inthe spreading of concrete by machine on a roadway, or the like, theconcrete customarily is first roughly -spread by suitable means, suchas, for example, manually, and the thus roughly spread concrete is thenstruck-off by the machine, the machine operating on one portion orsection of the roadway at a time. After such striking-off, the concretemust be smoothed to a final surface, `which customarily requires anoperation known in the trade as floating Heretofore, for the -most part,such floating customarily has been accomplished in a separate operation,eit-her manually, 4or by a separate machine operation.

It is a primary object of the present invention to afford a novelconcrete finishing machine which is operable, in a novel and expeditiousmanner, to both strike off and finally smooth, in a single operation,concrete which has been previously roughly spread on a roadway.

Another object is to afford a novel machine of the aforementioned typewhich may 'be so used for finally finishing concrete on all parts of aroadway, including bridge decks, and the like.

A concrete finishing machine of the general type to which the presentinvention pertains is shown in the S. P. Bidwell United States Letters'Patent No. 3,208,361, issued Sept. 28, 1965. It is an important objectof the present invention to afford improvement over such machinesheretofore known in the art.

The construction of concrete roadways is closely controlled byregulation. Such matters as the amount of slope or crown, and thesmoothness of the finished surface normally must be within very closelimits.

The -spreading and working of concrete is affected by many conditions,such as, for example, the type of aggregate used, the wetness ordrynessrof the concrete mix being spread, and the like. Such conditionsmay vary quite often, sometimes from batch to batch, or even duringspreading of the same batch.

It has been found that, in the machine finishing of concrete, a machinewhich will perform in an acceptable manner with a particular mix, willnot do acceptable work with a different mix. For example, a machinewhich may do acceptable work with a particular mix, may dig into theconcrete and fail to smooth it properly if a lighter aggregate is used;or a machine which may do acceptable work with a mix of a particularmoisture content may fail to do so if the mix is a little dryer. 1t isan important object of the present invention to afford `a novel concretefinishing machine which is effective to strike off and finish concreteunder all conditions of operation.

Another object of the present invention is to afford a novel concretefinishing machine embodying a concrete surfacing unit which may beadjusted in a novel and expeditious manner for all the variousconditions of operation.

An object ancillary to the foregoing is to enable such adjustments to bemade quickly and easily by remote control.

Yet another object of the present invention is to enable a concretefinishing machine of the type wherein the concrete surfacing unitthereof moves back and forth across a roadway, or the like, during aconcrete spreading and finishing operation of the machine to be affordedWith a bullfioat member which may be tilted in a novel and expeditiousmanner.

A further object is to enable such tilting to be effected `andaccurately controlled by remote control.

Another object is to ena-ble such tilting to Ibe effected in a novel andexpeditious manner at any position of the bullfioat member and at anystage of operation of the machine.

Another object is to afford a novel concrete finishing machine of theaforementioned type which is practical and efficient in operation, andwhich may be readily and economically produced commercially.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show a preferredembodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatI now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applyingthese principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the sameor equivalent principles may be used and `structural changes may be madeas desired by those skilled in the art without departing from thepresent invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. l is a cross section of a roadway showing a concrete finishingmachine, embodying the principles of the present invention, `disposedthereon in position of use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 3 3 inFIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4in FIG. 3.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, and especially to FIG.1, there is illustrated a form of concrete finishing machine in placeabove a section 1 of a concrete roadway. In most instances the surfaceof the roadway slopes downwardly toward each side thereof `from anintermediate raised portion 2.

The machine to which the present invention is applied is described ingreater detail in the aforesaid Bidwell patent, but for present purposesit will be sufficient to point out that it includes a trusswork,generally indicated by the numeral 3, which is ladapted to extendtransversely of the roadway being finished, and is adapted to be movedlengthwise of the roadway by any suitable means either mechanically orby hand.

In the usual arrangement, vertical supports 4 are positioned at oppositesides of the roadway and extend lengthwise thereof, the upper edges ofwhich are adapted to receive rollers 5 on the trusswork 3 and enable thetrusswork to be moved along the supports 4.

A surfacing unit generally indicated Iby the numeral 6 is mounted on andis suspended from the trusswork 3. This surfacing unit as illustratedherein includes an upper carriage 7 and a lower carriage 8. A bullfioatmember 9 is suspended from the lower carriage 8 and is adapted forlengthwise reciprocating movement simultaneously with a movement thereoftransversely of the concrete surface being finished and lengthwise ofthe trusswork 3.

As is explained in greater detail in the aforesaid Bidwell patent, thesurfacing unit 6 is adapted to move lengthwise of the trusswork 3 andtransversely of the surface being finished by means of a chain 10, towhich the surfacing unit is attached, and the rollers 11.

The trusswork is capable of being adjusted vertically with respect tothe roadway by means which include the vertically extending rods 12received in the tubular members 13 and arranged to be raised and loweredby rotation of the cranks 14.

In order to accommodate the movement of the surfacing unit to thedesired slope of the concrete surface, the trusswork 3 is hingedintermediate the ends thereof as at 15. Raising and lowering of thetrusswork at the center thereof is then accomplished by an adjustingassembly which includes the bars 16 mounted on the trusswork and throughwhich extend a threaded rod 17. Nuts 18 engage the threaded rod onopposite sides of the bars 16 so that proper adjustment thereof willchange the angular pitch of the trusswork at either side of the centerthereof, all as more specifically described in the aforesaid Bidwellpatent. Further adjustment of the trusswork to achieve variations in theroad contour may be made` by use of the adjusting means 19.

-In the present invention the lower carriage 8 includes a framegenerally indicated by the numeral 20 and which is preferably ofrectangular configuration. The frame 20 includes the elongated sidemembers 21 and the end members 22 secured thereto. A plurality ofsupporting brackets, each comprising a pair of downwardly and inwardlyinclined arms 23 and 24, are secured to the frame 20 in spaced relationto each other. The lower converging ends of these arms 23 and 24 havemounted thereon and extending downwardly therefrom a pair of plates 25,one on each side thereof. Each pair of plates 25 also ernbraces, and issecured by pivot pins 27 to a bearing member 26 fixed to the upper faceof the bulloat member 9. Each bearing member 26 and its associatedplates 25 receive a respective pivot pin 27, whereby the bullfloatmember 9 is suspended from the lower carriage and is mounted thereon forrotating or oscillating movement about an axis extending longitudinallyof the bulloat member 9, and which axis is preferably fixed.

At each end of the frame 20 and at substantially the longitudinal centerthereof, further supporting members are provided such as the downwardlyinclined arms 28 and 29. At the outer, lower end of arm 28, it isprovided with a pivot pin 30 which is received in a bearing member 31mounted on the upper surface of the bullfloat member 9.

The arm 29 at the opposite end of the frame is provided with a similarpivot pin 32 at its outer end, which is received in a bearing member 33also mounted on the bulliioat member 9.

The pivot pins 27, 30 and 32 are preferably in longitudinal alignment sothat the bullfloat member will be supported at several points along thelength thereof in a manner to permit rotation or oscillation thereofabout the pivot pins as an axis, thus enabling the longitudinal edges ofthe bullfloat member 9 to be raised or lowered with respect to theconcrete surface being finished and with respect to the surfacing unititself.

The means for rotating or oscillating the bullfloat member 9 ispreferably controlled at a point remote therefrom so that such rotationor oscillation may take place during the movement of the bullfioatmember while performing its surface finishing function.

The particular mechanism disclosed herein for accomplishing this purposeinvolves the use of a gearing arrangement actuated by an electric motor.Such a motor is shown in the drawing and identified by the numeral 34.It drives a worm 34a in mesh with a worm gear 34b within the gear box35. The worm gear drives a drive shaft 36 extending therefrom, which, inturn, rotates the eccentric 37. The eccentric has a crank member 38extending therefrom and which is received in an elongated vertical slot39 located in the upper portion of an upright member 40.

The lower end of the upright member 40 is mounted on a plate 41 fixed tothe upper surface of the bulloat member 9, and it will thus be evidentthat any movement of the upright 40 toward the right or left from theposition thereof shown in FIG. 3, will rotate or oscillate the bullfloatmember 9 about the axis formed by the pivot pins 27, 30 and 32. Such aposition of the bullfloat member is illustrated by the dot-dash lines inFIG. 3.

When the electric motor 34 is in operation, it will rotate the worm andworm gear within the gear box 35 to rotate the eccentric 37 which, inturn, will cause the crank or eccentric 38 to move either to the rightor to the left from the full line' position thereof shown in FIG. 3 tothe dot-dash line position thereof.

A remote control means 42 is located, preferably at one end of thetrusswork so that as conditions change, such as for example, themoisture content of the concrete or the type of aggregate therein, anoperator may control the transverse angular position of the bulloatmember 9 by operating the electric motor 34 to rotate the eccentric 38in either of two directions depending upon the angle to which thebullfloat member is to be rotated. The dot-dash line position of thevarious parts shown in FIG. 3 is somewhat exaggerated since in actualpractice the distance which one or the other edges of the bullfioatmember will be positioned above or below the horizontal shown in fulllines in FIG. 3 may range between 1/16" and 1A.

The manner in which the bullfloat member is mounted on the carriage fortilting about an axis longitudinally thereof not only enables thebullfioat member to be tilted transversely and from a remote positionwhile it is in operation, but also prevents any tilting of the bullfioatmember in a longitudinal direction by reason of the rigid supports forthe spaced pivots. The rigid supports, which include the pairs of arms23 and 24 and the braces 28 and 29, provide pivot points not onlyadjacent the ends of the bullfioat member, but also at various pointsspaced apart therebetween whereby the bullfloat member is rigidlysupported in a longitudinal direction and yet may be rotated or tiltedin a transverse direction.

Longitudinal reciprocation of the bulloat member 9 may be accomplishedby any suitable and well known means. Such means, for example, areillustrated in the aforesaid Bidwell patent, wherein there isillustrated a crank member 43 connected at one end to a link 44 so thatrotation thereof by suitable drive means will cause longitudinalreciprocation of the link. The opposite end of the link 44 may besuitably connected, as at 45, to an upright (not shown) which is securedat its lower end to the frame of the bulloat member.

From the foregoing description it will be evident that the presentinvention is one which affords novel means in the mounting of a bulloatmember on the surfacing unit of a concrete finishing machine, wherebynot only is the bulloat member prevented from tilting in a longitudinaldirection, but is capable of being tilted or rotated in a transversedirection for purposes heretofore fully set forth, and by means whichare controlled at a remote part of the machine, thereby enabling thecontrol to be actuated during the actual surfacing operation without thenecessity of any interruptions.

Thus, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof my invention, it is -to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe precise details set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. In a concrete finishing machine embodying an elongated trusswork forspanning a surface to be finished, and means on opposite sides of saidsurface for supporting said trusswork at respective opposite endsthereof for movement of said Itrusswork across said surface in adirection transverse to the length of said trusswork,

(a) supporting means supported by and movable longitudinally of saidtrusswork, (b) an elongated fioat extending transversely of saidtrusswork in downwardly spaced relation thereto, (c) said float beingpivotally mounted on said supporting means on an axis transverse to thelength of said trusswork for movement between two extreme tiltingangles, and (d) other means including (l) crank means operativelyconnected to said float,

and (2) a motor operatively connected to said crank means forselectively adjusting said float on said axis to any one of a pluralityof tilting angles between said two extreme angles. 2. The combination asdefined in claim 1 and which includes (a) means operatively connected tosaid trusswork and to said supporting means for moving said float backand forth longitudinally of said trusswork. 3. The combination asdefined in claim 1 and which includes (a) means operatively connected tosaid trusswork and to said supporting means for longitudinallyreciproeating said float transversely of said trusswork. 4. Thecombination as defined in claim 1 and in which said other means includes(a) remote con-trol means mounted on one end of said trusswork andoperatively connected to said motor for controlling operation of saidmotor and thereby controlling tilting of said float. 5. The combinationas defined in claim 1 and in which (a) said supporting means includes(1) a frame, (2) a plurality of bearing members spaced along the lengthof said oat, (3) a plurality of rigid arms extending from said frametoward said float, and (4) pivot pins on said arms received in saidbearing members whereby said float may be tilted about said pivot pinsas an axis, and (b) one of said bearing members is positioned adjacenteach end of said float whereby to prevent angular tlting of said fioa-tin a direction longitudinally thereof.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 and in which (a) Said othermeans includes an upright member connected at its lower end to saidfioat and having an elongated slot adjacent its upper end, and

(b) said crank means extends into said slot in position whereby rotationof said crank means will move said upright member to tilt said fioat.

7. A concrete finishing machine comprising (a) an elongated trussworkadapted to span a concrete surface to be finished,

(b) means on opposite ends of said trusswork for supporting the latterfor transverse movement along such a surface,

(c) a surfacing unit including (l) supporting means mounted on saidtrusswork for movement back and forth longitudinally of said trusswork,

(2) an elongated bullfloat suspended from said supporting meanstransversely to the length of said trusswork and movable with saidsupporting means longitudinally of said trusswork,

(d) means for so moving said supporting means and said bullfloatlongitudinally of said trusswork, and (e) means for oscillating saidbulloat around an axis extending longitudinally thereof, (f) said lastmentioned means comprising (1) crank means operatively connected to saidfloat,

(2) a motor operatively connected to said crank means, and

(3) means mounted on one end of said trusswork and operatively connectedto said motor for controlling operation of said motor and therebycontrolling oscillation of said bullfloat from said one end of saidtrusswork.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,351,278 6/1944 Mathews.

2,394,274 2/ 1946 TroXell.

2,543,966 3/1951 Heltzel 94`45 2,603,132 7/1952 Miller 94-45 2,839,1995/1958 Freeman 94-45 XR 3,208,361 9/1965 Bidwell 94`45 JACOB L.NOCKENOFF, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,452,654 July l 1969 John E. Kessel It is certified that error appears inthe above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 6, after line 9, insert the following claim:

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 and in which (a) said othermeans includes control means mounted on one end of said trusswork andoperatively connected to said motor for controlling operation of saidmotor and thereby controlling rotation of said crank means from said oneend of said trusswork.

same column 6 line l0 "7 should read 8 line 45 "2,839,199" should read2,834,199 In the heading to the printed specification, line 8, "7Claims" should read 8 Claims Signed and sealed this 21st day of April1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

